Oklahoma drills Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 72-42
BY JAY UPCHURCH Associated Press
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
1/01/13 at 5:36 AM
NORMAN - The Amath M'Baye who averaged 12 points and 5.7 rebounds a game as a sophomore at Wyoming is beginning to make his presence felt for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Coming off of a 16-point, six-rebound performance that earned him Big 12 newcomer of the week honors, the junior transfer scored 14 points and pulled down six boards to help the Sooners (9-3) to a 72-42 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Monday in the first game played at OU's McCasland Field House since 1975.
M'Baye was 7-of-11 from the field to complement a game-high 17-point effort from Steven Pledger, who hit 5-of-10 shots from beyond the arc.
"These two (Pledger and M'Baye) stepped up and made shots, and it's good to see that," said OU coach Lon Kruger. "I think the other guys gain confidence when guys are stepping up and making shots like today."
Pledger entered the game shooting only 36 percent on 3-point attempts, but found his stroke with a pair of long-range treys that staked OU to an 18-6 lead six minutes into the contest.
"I'm glad we were able to jump on top like that and keep the pedal to the metal and get playing time for the white team who works so hard every week for us," said M'Baye, in reference to OU bench.
The Islanders (1-10) shot only 29 percent from the field en route to their 10th straight loss.
OU opens Big 12 Conference play on Saturday at West Virginia.
Original Print Headline: M'Baye sparkles in Sooner romp
